Installing a backer board in the bathroom will help the tiles to stick better and give protection too. If you had been calling the carpenters in the previous time to help you install a board backer for the bathroom, now you can stop doing it. Installing a backer board is not as hard as it seems. What you need is a reliable companion to help you, the right tools and information. Here\’s how you can do your own installation of backer board in the bathroom.
Things that you need:
- Plastic
- Plywood
- Hammer
- pry bar
- pencil or chalk
- razor knife
- drywall saw
- roofing felt
- silicone sealant
- alkali-resistant tape
- thin-set mortar
Steps:
- First, take a piece of plastic and tape it over the tub area. Place a piece of plywood over the tub for added protection. This will help to protect the tub surface.
- Remove the tub handles, sprout and trim. Use a hammer and pry bar to remove the existing tile. Then, measure the area where the cement backer board will be placed. Use pencil and chalk the area to mark the cuts that need to be made.
- Use a drywall saw and razor knife to cut out the old drywall and remove it. Check the studs to make sure that they are plumbed and on plane once all the drywall has been removed.
- You need to create a vapor barrier before installing the backer board. This will help to prevent the moisture from seeping through the tile work, backer board and the wall space between the studs. Simply cut the roofing felt into strips that fits into the cut areas. For example, on vertical joints there should be 6\’ overlap of roofing felt. For horizontal joints, there needs to be a 2″ overlap and also allow the felt to overlap the tub.
- To keep the water from going through the joint, apply a silicone sealant between the felt and the tub lip. To secure the backer board, pre-cut the cement backer board to fit the areas around the tub. Adhere the backer board according to the manufacturer\’s instructions using screws. When installing a backer board, always start and stop vertical joints on a stud.
- Tape the joints with an alkali-resistant tape and thin-set mortar. Let the alkali-resistant tape and the thin-set mortar to set for at least 24 hours before the tile installation begin.
Additional Reading:
http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/how-to-prepare-and-install-backer-board-in-the-bathroom/index.html
Image Credit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/65439930@N00/3343255192/
